Jayde Kendall murder trial: Jury hears closing submissions

A MURDER trial in Queensland has heard how the man accused of killing a schoolgirl liked to “foolish and dangerous” sexual behaviour.

Sarah Motherwell

AAPSeptember 13, 20176:08pm

Jayde Kendall was 16 when she was killed.Source:Supplied

BRENDEN Bennetts’ behaviour after he killed Gatton schoolgirl Jayde Kendall cannot be explained away by panic or fear, a trial has heard.

Bennetts has pleaded guilty to manslaughter but is on trial in the Brisbane Supreme Court for murder after denying he intended to cause the 16-year-old’s death.

The 21-year-old did not testify or give any evidence in his defence at trial. Defence barrister Michael Copley QC said in his closing submission on Wednesday Bennetts had been inclined to apply force to the neck of his sexual partners for years.

Mr Copley said it was that “foolish and dangerous” behaviour that may have led to Jayde’s death in 2015.

But prosecutor Vicki Loury QC said the then 18-year-old’s actions were not those of a “scared, panicked, unthinking man”.

The jury has heard Bennetts picked up Jayde after school about 3.20pm on August 14 and left her body concealed in a field on the outskirts of town, where it was found 13 days later too decomposed to determine a cause of death. Ms Loury said Bennetts repeatedly attempted to divert suspicion away from him by feigning concern for Jayde’s disappearance and co-operating with police.

Brenden Bennetts is on trial for the murder of Jayde Kendall.Source:Supplied

“He let her family search for her in the vain hope she was alive,” she said. “He improvises when he’s been caught out.

“You can almost see the cogs turning in his head to make up a version that makes sense.” Ms Loury said if Jayde had died from sexual misadventure, why did Bennetts not call for help or call triple-0.

“Because that’s what people do, they ring for help,” she said. “Not to drag a person up a hill and then leave her and go about lying about where she is for days.”

The court has previously heard Bennetts texted himself Jayde’s bank PIN about 4pm and withdrew a total $70 from her account later that evening. Bennetts also deleted all text messages between him and Jayde and disposed of her belongings including her shoes, phone, backpack and wallet. “He was thinking he was clever, but little did he know those messages could be recovered,” Ms Loury said.

SES workers search for evidence close to where the body of Jayde Kendall was found. Picture: Jono Searle.Source:News Corp Australia

“Panic or fear just doesn’t wash.

“It just doesn’t explain going to the bank and taking her money.”

But Mr Copley said it was “more plausible” Bennetts withdrew the money because he knew he had been seen by witnesses near where Jayde’s body was and wanted to make it seem like all was well.

“He panicked, he covered the body with grass and drove off,” Mr Copley said. “His conduct after the killing is proportionate with shame or consciousness of guilt for an unlawful killing (manslaughter).”